Method and apparatus for preparing combustible fuel mixtures



Nov. 22, 1960 c. NQBERGSTROM 2,950,975

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COMBUSTIBLE FUEL MIXTURES Filed May6, 1957 United tates Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING-(IQMBUSTTBLE FUEL MTXTURES Carl N. Bergstrom, deceased, late ofPortland, Greg, by Bartlett F. Cole, executor, Mead Bldg, Portland,Greg.

Filed May 6, 1957, Ser. No. 657,281

This invention pertains to the combustion of fuels, and relatesparticularly to a novel method and apparatus by which to improve theoperation of internal combustion engines.

The operation of internal combustion engines is attended by manyrecognized disadvantages. For example, the formation of carbon depositswithin the combustion chambers and upon other of the working partsultimately results in the development of an exhaust which includesexcessive amounts of solid particles and oil. In valve type engines thisaccumulation of carbon contributes materially to the sticking of valvesand otherwise faulty operation of the engine. in gasoline type engines,and particularly those of high compression ratios, it is necessary foroptimum operation to use premium quality gasolines which includeadditives to control the rate of combustion and thus reduce to a minimumthe disconcerting rattle or knock normally attending the use of regulartypes of gasoline. The operation of internal combustion engines also isattended by an exhaust which includes substantial amounts of poisonouscarbon monoxide.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus by which internal combustion engines are rendered operablewithout the disadvantages enumerated above.

Specifically, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide a method and apparatus by which to minimize in the operation ofinternal combustion engines the exhaust of solid particles and oil.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a method andapparatus by which to eliminate carbon monoxide from the exhaust gasesof internal combustion engines.

A further important object of the present invention is the provision ofa method and apparatus by which to minimize the formation of carbondeposits on the working parts of internal combustion engines.

Still another important object of this invention is the provision of amethod and apparatus by which internal combustion engines of thegasoline type may be erated with regular gasolines without theattendance of rattle or knock which heretofore has characterized suchoperation.

A still further important object of this invention is to provideapparatus for achieving the foregoing objectives, which apparatus is ofsimplified construction for economical manufacture, which may be readilyinstalled upon internal combustion engines of all types, and which isoperable with maximum efiiciency and with a minimum of maintenance andrepair.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill appear from the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is aforeshortened view in side elevation of apparatus forpreparing combustible fuel mixtures, embodying the features of thepresent invention, the same being illustrated in conjunction with theintake system of an internal combustion engine, parts being broken awayto disclose details of construction;

Figure 2 is aforeshortened sectional view taken along the line 2-2 inFigure l; and

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a form of electricalcircuit associated with the apparatus illustrated in the precedingviews.

In its basic concept, the present invention involves the introduction ofa quantity of ozone into the combustion chamber of an internalcombustion engine, preliminary to the combustion of air and combustiblefuel. This may be achieved in many ways. For example, ozone may beinjected directly into the combustion chamber, independently of the airand combustible fuel, or in admixture therewith. Alternatively, ozonemay be generated from the air being introduced to the combustion chamberwherein, as in diesel engines and some types of gasoline engines, thecombustible fuel is introduced by injection. In those types of internalcombustion engines which employ carburetors to admix air and gaso.ineprior to introduction into the combustion chamber, ozone may beintroduced into the mixture or into the air preceding mixture with fuel.In the preferred embodiment of the invention ozone is generated from theair either before or after the introduction of gasoline.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, apparatus is provided forgenerating ozone to be introduced into the combustible fuel intakesystem of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes ahousing for an ozone generator, the housing having an air inlet and anair outlet adapted for connection to the intake system of an internalcombustion engine.

Thus, in the specific embodiment illustrated, the housing is formed oftwo hollow sections it and 12, adapted for releasable interconnection bymeans of interengaging threads 14. The upper section 10 is provided witha hollow extension 16 adapted to releasahe receive the hollow supportinghub 18 of an air cleaner housing 20. A clamp 22 may be provided ifdesired for securing the air cleaner housing firmly to the inletextension.

The lower section 12 of the housing preferably is provided with alateral bracket 24 which functions, for example in conjunction with amounting frame 26 and bolt 28, to secure the housing on the engine orother suitable support. The lower section also is provided with athreaded opening adapted to releasably receive the complementarythreaded section of a lamp socket base 30. The socket base is centrallyapertured to receive the socket end of an electric ozone lamp 32, ofconventional construction.

The lower section 12 also is provided with a hollow extension 34 whichfunctions as an air outlet for the housing. This outlet extension isadapted to receive thereover one end of a hollow conduit 36, preferablyof the flexible type and constructed of a material which is inert todeleterious action of ozone. Thus, the conduit may be made of metal orof various types of synthetic plastic materials, well known in the art.

Means is provided for connecting the opposite end of the conduit 36 tothe fuel intake system of an internal combustion engine. In theembodiment illustrated in the drawing, such means is provided in theform of an annular adapter having a peripheral wall 38 and spaced faceflanges 4t), 42. The face flanges are apertured transversely to form acentral opening 44. The space between the peripheral wall and the spacedface flanges forms an annular channel 46 which communicates with alateral hollow extension 48. The extension is adapted to receivethereover the end of the flexible conduit 36 opposite the outlet 34.

The adapter is proportioned for interposition between sections of theair and fuel intake system of an internal combustion engine. Asillustrated in the drawing, ad-

, jacent sections 50,52, of the intake systemv are provided 1 withconnector flanges adapted to be secured asuby means of connectingbolts'54. These adjacent sections of the intake system are hollow,asindic'ated an'd the openings ano e" compression cycle. It will beapparent to those skilled in 44 in the spaced side flanges of theadapter preferably are proportioned to correspondand register with thebore of the intake sections. .Thus,.the adapter may be'interposedbetween said intake sections and secured against displacement by meansof the frictional pressure-exerted thereon by the spaced flanges, bytightening the connecting bolts. j

The adjacent sections ofthe' intake illustratedin thc :dr'awing mayrepresent a portionof the intake system located, for example, betweenthecarburetor and intake tion of the intake system which precedes the inletto the carburetor, as for example, the portion between the carf buretorinlet and the air cleaner provided for filtering the air to beintroduced into the combustion chamber.

In Figure 3 of the drawing there is shown a simplified I electricalcircuit for the ozone lamp 32. One terminal of the lamp is grounded, asindicated, and the other terminal is connected through the ignitionswitch 56 to the positive terminal of the engine battery 58, thusproviding for activation of the lamp when the ignition switch is turnedIn the operation of the apparatus described hereinbefore, closing of theignition switch 56 energizes the ozone lamp 32. With the engine running,the reduced draft of air therethrough in the direction indicated by thearrows in Figure 1. This draft may be a flow of air to a carburetor, orit may be a flow of air and atomized gasoline from a carburetor to theintake manifold. In either case, the partial vacuum creating the draftalso causes air to be drawn through the air cleaner housing 20 into theupper space of the housing surrounding the ozone lamp 32. This air thenis directed downwardly around the ozone lamp in close proximitytherewith,

thereby generating ozone from the oxygen content of the air. Thismixture of air and ozone then is drawn through the outlet 34 of thehousing and through the flexible conduit 36, to the annular spacedefined by the adapter wall, from whence it enters the intake system ofthe engine. of air, combustible fuel'and ozone enters the combustionchambers of an engine, whereupon it is compres'sed and -exploded, inconventional manner.

From this intake system .the mixture In the case of diesel engines, theapparatus disclosed in the drawing preferably is connected to the airintake system, and the resulting mixture of air and ozone is introducedinto the combustion chambers where it is mixed with combustible fuelwhich is injected therein during the manifold of a gasoline engine, orit may represent a por- 5 a pressure or partial vacuum in the intakesystem causes a "characteristic cloud of smoke which normally is emittedfrom the exhaust, particularly after extended deceleration, issubstantially eliminated. Furthermore, the exhaust gas is completelyfree of, poisonous carbon monoxide. Periodic inspection of the pistonrings, valves and spark plugs after operation with the apparatus of thisinvention evidenced a progressive decrease in carbon deposits until;after about one thousand milesof operation,

.carbon residue was reduced to a minimum. Operating.

performance was improved even with the use of regular gasolinescontaining no anti-knock additives, and without the characteristicrattle or knock.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art'that various changes inthe form, size, and specific details of construction describedhereinbefore may be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofthis invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoingdescription is primarily illustrative of the invention and 30, is not tobe considered as limiting the scope thereof.

Having now described the invention and the manner in which the same maybe used, what is claimed as new and. desired to secure by Letters Patentis:

For use with an internal combustion engine having an intake system forintroducing a mixture of air and combustible fuel into the combustionchamber thereof, and wherein said intake system includes a pairofconduit sections releasably connected together, apparatus forpreparing combustible fuel mixtures, comprising an electrically actuatedozone lamp, a hollow housing therefor having an air inlet and an airoutlet interconnected by a space surrounding the lamp, conduit meansconnected at one end to the air outlet, and annular adapter meansconnected to the opposite end of the conduit means and adapted forinsertion transversely between the hollow conduit sections of the saidintake system of the engine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,680,537 Grooms Aug 14, 1928 1,802,729 Menz Apr. 28, 1931 1,982,484Runge Nov. 27, 1934 2,146,265 Moore Feb.7, 1939 2,194,887 De LamprechtMar. 26, 1940 2,575,664 James Nov. 20, 1951 2,656,824

Devaux Oct. 27, 1953

